9 Employee Handbook Topics You Need To Cover - Bender Insurance Solutions (2024)

9 Employee Handbook Topics You Need To Cover - Bender Insurance Solutions (1)There is a lot of information in the employee handbook, but do you remember what the essentials are?

Your handbook sets the organization’s expectations, policies, and their corresponding procedures, what the organization expects from employees, and what employees can expect from the business. And in a time when regulations are changing all the time, it’s important to make sure your handbook and policies are updated. Below are some of the essential topics to include in your handbook.

1. Welcome Message

How do you communicate your values and mission to employees? Your welcome message can liven up a handbook before you take a deep dive into paid time off. This opening is your chance toget people excited to bepart of the team.

2. Your At-Will Relationship

Stating yourat-will relationship clarifies that the handbook is not an employment contract.Boiling it down,you’resayingherethe employment relationship canbe terminatedby either party at any time, for any reason, with or without notice.You can end it; the employee can end it—there doesn’t have to be a good reason.

3. Equal Employment Opportunity

Following theEEOC,make sure your handbook spells out that employees are to be treated equally regardless of:

  • Race
  • Color
  • Religion
  • Sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity)
  • National origin
  • Age (40 or older)
  • Disability
  • Genetic information (including family medical history)

NOTE: Some states require employers to protect employees based on other classes,like marital status, arrest records, or credit information. Check your state’s rules to make sure you’re clear on those and share the information with your employees in those states.

4. Conduct

General conduct guidelines are a list of discouraged behaviors. These vary between employers, although some items (e.g., sleeping on the job or stealing from the workplace) show up in nearly every handbook.Criticaltopics to cover are:

  • Harassment
  • Workplace Violence
  • Procedures for filing complaints
  • Corrective action(What’s going to happen if employees don’t follow the policies in the handbook?)

5. Compensation & Performance

Thissection isn’t about salary disclosure, but it defines important pointsunder federal wage and hour law, as well as state wage and hour law, like when the workweek starts and ends.You’ll also want to cover:

  • Pay periods & paydays
  • Timekeeping
  • Overtime
  • Performanceevaluations

In addition to covering evaluations, a subsection on performance should include performance-based bonuses (if your company partipcates in them) discipline, resignation, and termination.

6. Benefits & Leaves

This section gets referenced a lot. Be sure to cover things like:

  • Paidtimeoff
  • Leaves:sick,disability,jury,voting,bereavement
  • State-specificleaves:Depending on where you operate, there could be between 2 and 15specific state laws that you need to follow concerning employment.Maybe even as many as 20 laws if you’re in California and are a larger employer.You’ll want these coveredin your handbook.
  • Health insurance
  • COBRA

7. Health & Safety

Aside from what Occupational Health and Safety laws and other regulations require, employers have room to be as strict as they want to be in terms of smoking, drugs, and alcohol.

Touch on office closuresfor things like inclement weather.Explain the organization’s expectations for employees should they be unable to get to work safely due to inclement weather such as snow or an ice storm.

8. Workplace Guidelines

This penultimate section is kind of the catch-all. It may include several miscellaneous policies, like:

  • Off-the-clock work
  • Meal and rest breaks (if specified by state law)
  • Lactation accommodations
  • Attendance and tardiness
  • Personal appearance and hygiene
  • Electronic asset usage
  • Social media
  • Parking

9. Acknowledgment of Receipt

All handbooks should include an acknowledgment of receipt for employees to sign. Their signature is crucial documentation to show you and the employee that they understand the handbook and will abide by the policies within.

Ultimately, you’ll want to update your handbook annually. If possible, distribute different versions for different states, so your employees understand exactly what policies apply to them.

Read full article at: https://www.kpaonline.com/roles/hr-management/9-employee-handbook-topics-you-need-to-cover/?utm_source=rmc-periodic-newsletter

9 Employee Handbook Topics You Need To Cover - Bender Insurance Solutions (2024)

FAQs

9 Employee Handbook Topics You Need To Cover - Bender Insurance Solutions? ›

The topics included in the employee handbook should cover the employer's mission statement, equal employment opportunity statement, contractual disclaimer and at-will employment statement (where allowed), purpose of the employee handbook, and background information on the company.

What is required to be included in an employee handbook? ›

The topics included in the employee handbook should cover the employer's mission statement, equal employment opportunity statement, contractual disclaimer and at-will employment statement (where allowed), purpose of the employee handbook, and background information on the company.

Can an employee handbook be considered a risk management tool? ›

However, an employee handbook can serve as a great tool to help companies avoid legal risks and as an internal communication guideline that helps employees better understand their rights and expectations from the company.

What makes a great employee handbook? ›

Handbooks should be easy to access and consistent because it's important for all employees to have the same information about the organization's policies. This can save your HR team from answering the same questions repeatedly. It also empowers employees to handle straightforward issues in the workplace on their own.

What is the best welcome statement for an employee handbook? ›

Welcome aboard! The team at [company] is thrilled to have you joining us. We want to do everything we can to ensure you have a wonderful experience here, and we've compiled a guide containing everything you need to know to thrive. Here at [company], we are committed to [mission statement].

What should be avoided in an employee handbook? ›

Don't Include: Jargon and Complex Language

Your handbook should be clear and easy for everyone to read, regardless of their role or background. Therefore, it's best to avoid jargon or complex phrasing. By using straightforward language, you can eliminate confusion, misunderstandings, and legal issues.

What is the difference between an employee handbook and a policy? ›

Although statements of policy appear in both handbooks and policies and procedures manuals, the topics covered in a policies and procedures manual are often more detailed and exhaustive. The subjects covered in an employee handbook are typically selective and the information provided is more general.

Is insurance a risk management tool? ›

Insurance plays a crucial role in the broader strategy of business risk management by helping companies identify the types of threats they face and their likelihood.

What is insurance as a tool for risk management? ›

In today's dynamic business environment, insurance plays a vital role in safeguarding companies from various risks. As an integral component of the Enterprise Risk Management Framework, insurance provides a way to manage residual risks after implementing risk mitigation measures.

What is covered under risk management? ›

Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing and controlling financial, legal, strategic and security risks to an organization's capital and earnings.

Which sections in the employee handbook would be most useful? ›

Compensation & Benefits. Because employees often consider compensation and benefits to be the most important pieces of employment information, it's best practice to dedicate an entire section to these topics. Pay. Outline your company's pay-grade structure, pay frequency, and distribution.

What is a better name for an employee handbook? ›

Some possible alternatives for an employee handbook include Employee Guide, Employee Manual, Employee Handbook Toolkit, Employee Playbook, and Employee Policy Guide.

How often should employee handbooks be updated? ›

You should review your handbook at least once a year to ensure that it reflects any changes in your company's policies, procedures, and goals. You should also update your handbook whenever there are significant changes in the law, such as new anti-discrimination rules, minimum wage increases, or leave entitlements.

How do you end an employee handbook? ›

Always add an acknowledgment receipt at the end of your document. This is an important part of the employee handbook that should not be overlooked. Employees signing the document means they understand the contents — providing you with invaluable protection if ever needed.

Are employee handbooks legally binding? ›

Generally speaking, an employee handbook is not a legally binding contract unless it explicitly states that it is. However, certain statements in the handbook can be interpreted as contractual promises if they are specific enough and imply mutual obligations between employer and employee.

How do you write an introduction to an employee handbook? ›

An effective employee handbook introduction is essential for outlining the company's mission, values and expectations. Crafting a unique introduction should include clear language, storytelling elements and maintaining a professional tone to create an inviting atmosphere for employees.

Do all policies have to be in the handbook? ›

If problems arise, you'll have documentation of your compliance. When you're hiring employees in California, your employee handbook should cover all notable state and federal policies. You may also want to include non-required policies that will protect your company.

How enforceable is an employee handbook? ›

Generally speaking, an employee handbook is not a legally binding contract unless it explicitly states that it is. However, certain statements in the handbook can be interpreted as contractual promises if they are specific enough and imply mutual obligations between employer and employee.

Are employee handbooks required by state and federal law? ›

California does not require employers to have a handbook. However, if you create a handbook, there are policies that must be included.

What are the legal implications of employee handbooks? ›

Many courts not only consider the information in the employee handbook as adequate notice for employees but may also consider the employee handbook to be evidence of a contract between employers and employees.

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